17 December 2008

Can you feel the warm breeze.... the scent of the ocean? I am sitting on a secluded beach on the west coast of Zakynthos, the third largest of the Ionian Islands with dramatic vistas. Steep cliffs plummet down to the pristine white sand beach. Can you hear the call of the sea birds? Now .....never mind that my warm breeze is actually the heat coming from the secondary heater in the living room to ward off the chill or the heat from the stove top as I brew yet another pot of warming tea. Now don't break my bubble. Shhhh!!!!I prefer to believe that I am sitting on this secluded beach in Greece........close my eyes.

For those of you who frequent my blog you know that I never miss the Taste & Create event which gets bigger and bigger each and every time. It is the brainchild of Nicole over at For the Love of Food . I love to visit her site for all the delicious recipes and tidbits of very helpful information. She even has an on-line store with wonderful kitchen gadgets and gourmet foods.

For the event this month I have been paired with our founder herself Nicole of For the Love of Food . It was very hard to choose just one recipe to prepare with dishes like Cuban Pastelitos de Carne , Homemade Chicken Tikal with Black Bean Puree , Indian Burgers and Roasted Tomato Pesto on Pasta . With this cold snap, and the temperatures dipping well below freezing, I felt the need to drift away to sunnier climates. Living in a Canadian winter I usually barbecue all year round but today it was too cold even for me, so, I opted for the use of my grill pan. This Chicken Caprese Sandwich enabled me to drift away to the Ionian Islands. I have had this recipe bookmarked for some time so it was perfect to attempt today. I also decided to marinate the fresh mozzarella slices as well as the tomatoes to top the sandwich.

Now let me get back to the beach.......................... better yet you better join me...............

In a large bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the olive oil with the lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme, garlic and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Spoon 1- 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into a medium bowl, add the tomatoes and turn to coat. Add the chicken to the large bowl and turn to coat. Let the tomatoes and chicken stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Light a grill. Brush the rolls with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and grill over high heat until golden. Add the chicken to the grill, season with salt and pepper and grill over high heat, turning once, until cooked through and lightly charred, about 6 minutes. Place the chicken on the rolls and top with the mozzarella, tomato and basil. Spoon any tomato juices on the top half of the bun, close the sandwiches and serve.

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.

Val, why yes, I am familiar with that particular type of fantasy...mine is on the Big Island of Hawaii, I'm laying on white sand, while Piko, the beach waiter, brings me drinks!Alas...no Piko...just snow and the garage truck driver! But that summerish sandwich sure helps my craving for the smell of basil in a balmy breeze!

Oh man, you had me totally believing you were on the beach! I think I'll mentally join you there! And while we are there together, could you please oh please oh please make one of these sandwiches for me? I'll do all the clean up! YUM!

If you look closely at the photo the sandwich is in front of a calendar...yes even my calendars have photos of Greece.Nothing but snow here ladies and gents as well. The roads were treacherous today!!Piko can be my waiter as well Catherine while we're sipping back cactus juice.Lucky you growing your own basil this time of the year Terri.Yes a nice tall cold glass of Kokanee would go well Natashya!!Yes I'll make you a sammie Paula if you make me a Bellini!!!!Susan is joining us with the spritzers!!

It sounds delish! For a moment there, I was on a sun-filled beach with warm breezes running through my rapidly thinning hair! I'm not ready to give up winter yet though, but check back with me on Jan 2. I'll definitely be ready then!

I'm stepping into your bubble with you Val...how delightful. LOVE LOVE LOVE the sandwich & I always look forward to your Taste & Create posts. I've recently planted some thyme which is just beginning to peep out of my pot. This is bookmarked for the inaugural 'crop' as I shall proudly call it (if & when the leaves grow).xoxoxo Thanks for sharing the warm wafts of breeze!!

I really thought you were enjoying a vacation, sitting on the beach, listening to the sound of the waves, and soaking up the warm rays of the sun, then reality hit. I love the places your imagination can take you to. :)

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My blog More Than Burnt Toast has been my passion for almost 9 years and has evolved with me over time as I have gained confidence in the kitchen. Follow my travels through Italy and Greece one recipe at a time, upcoming cooking classes at local Okanagan wineries and restaurants, as well as daily experimentation in my own kitchen. Every day we should be excited about what we are eating even if it just means making use of a wonderful find at our local farmers market. I look forward to getting to know you.